evolution

[fatgaz]

hi all, here's a thought if evolution changes animals plants etc over hundreds/thousands of years by either adding or removing body parts to adapt to their surroundings how come we still have such a large brain and only use 10% of our brain or only 10% of our brain potential. surely through evolution our brain should have shrunk or not grown to the size it is today if it is not used to its full potential. when answering please remember i am but a humble person so layman terms only thanks

Gaz

[ChuckFickens]

The "we only use 10% of out brain" thing is a myth.

[rowanwitch]

at any one time a large proportion of our brain is inactive but different bits switch on and off when we are doing different things..... so we use a lot of it but not at the same time....

[WaldoMcFroog]

Chuck is right. Here's an article about it by a neuroscientist:

http://www.theness.co...rible-thing-to-waste/

[Old_Geezer]

You might use only 10% of yours, I'd like to think I use all mine.

How would a shinking brain help you reach breeding age and care for your offspring ? I can not conceive :-) of any evolutionary pressure for shrinkage to occur.

[squarebear]

What makes you think we only use 10% of our brain?

[ChuckFickens]

Reading AB will do that to you, SB :)

[fatgaz]

hi squarebear, in answer to your question I had just heard it was about 10% and assumed it was correct, but as chuckfickens has said aparently it is a myth so am i now right in thinking that we do infact use all of our brain or has there been any proof that there are infact some parts of our brains that are inactive?

[fatgaz]

wow thanks for postng the link waldo it has deffo answered all my questions and in laymans terms as well, once again thanks for all your replies

Gaz

[joko]

i think the 10% thing originally sprung up as a way of trying to get people to use their brain for education, and not to dumb down and to generally think more, rather than a literal physical thing...but its meaning got mutated over time...

[DTCwordfan]

I am reminded of the words of Albert Einstein

He who joyfully marches to music in rank
and file has already earned my contempt.
He has been given a large brain by
mistake, since for him the spinal cord
would fully suffice

[DTCwordfan]

and also Machiavelli

There are three different kinds of brains, the
one understands things unassisted, the other
understands things when shown by others,
and the third understands neither alone
nor with the explanations of others.

The first kind is most excellent, the second kind
also excellent, but the third useless.

[chakka35]

The bigger error in fatgaz's question is one that occurs all the time on AB: the assumption that evolution has some sort of plan or aim to make things more efficient or practical.
Evolution has no plan or aim. If a random mutation occurs which might produce a certain change then whether that change happens depends on whether that mutation is 'fit' for the environment it emerges into (natural selection). If that mutation does not , by sheer chance, occur then the change won't happen no matter how desirable and helpful that change might be.

[jno]

AB allows you to use other people's brains as well, which is evolutionarily very promising. I'm currently using 8% of mine but 27% of Chuck's.

[Ankou]

i like using other peoples brains, in salad or with chips.

[jno]

I don't mind the Brains that the Welsh rugby players have on their jerseys but I draw the line at solids.

[jackthehat]

Brains make good faggots.